On August 25, the WCHA extended invitations to Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Alaska-Fairbanks, Bowling Green and Western Michigan, with a 30 day time limit to make a decision. That 30 days expires next weekend. Has anyone heard anything on where they are at in the decision process or which way they may be leaning?

scsutommyboy

09-15-2011, 10:33 AM

On August 25, the WCHA extended invitations to Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Alaska-Fairbanks, Bowling Green and Western Michigan, with a 30 day time limit to make a decision. That 30 days expires next weekend. Has anyone heard anything on where they are at in the decision process or which way they may be leaning?

Only if they have no other choice.....

Bronzebacks

09-15-2011, 10:41 AM

Given the current situation, I would not be surprised if they request an extension to make their decision.

davyd83

09-15-2011, 10:53 AM

Given the current situation, I would not be surprised if they request an extension to make their decision. They need to find out Notre Dame is going to do first. The other thing is, if Bowling Green waits, they could end up left out in the cold.

Shirtless Guy

09-15-2011, 12:50 PM

They need to find out Notre Dame is going to do first. The other thing is, if Bowling Green waits, they could end up left out in the cold.I really wonder what the WCHA will do if they request an extension...tell them, its now or never? give it to them? I mean they offered the invitations so they've washed their hands of the "whats best for hockey" stuff.

Bronzebacks

09-15-2011, 02:04 PM

To be honest, I hope the WCHA will say "time is up." I fear they will grant an extension if requested.

"And the Falcons might have even more new company in the WCHA than some of their Central Collegiate Hockey Association rivals."That leads to speculation the WCHA and the CCHA could be talking with four Atlantic Hockey schools - Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara and Robert Morris - about joining the WCHA.
The CCHA and the four Atlantic Hockey schools first met July 26 to discuss future options for both sides.
Alabama-Huntsville, an independent, also may be involved in the talks. The Chargers were turned down for CCHA membership in 2009.

stuckinwi

09-15-2011, 03:22 PM

That leads to speculation the WCHA and the CCHA could be talking with four Atlantic Hockey schools - Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara and Robert Morris - about joining the WCHA.
The CCHA and the four Atlantic Hockey schools first met July 26 to discuss future options for both sides.
Alabama-Huntsville, an independent, also may be involved in the talks. The Chargers were turned down for CCHA membership in 2009.

I would hope it's UAH... if it is the four Atlantic schools, why not keep the CCHA and the autobid?

TigerFan86-87

09-15-2011, 03:47 PM

I would hope it's UAH... if it is the four Atlantic schools, why not keep the CCHA and the autobid?
If there is any truth to that thought, I would think it would have to be about UAH. All the talk is that the AHA-4 balked at being in the CCHA with UP or (more likely) Alaska schools due to travel concerns. What would possess them to suddenly consider joining the WCHA with all the Minnesota (except UMD and UMTC, of course), UP, and Alaska schools? I would be shocked if they were to be involved in any discussions with the WCHA.

4four4

09-15-2011, 03:52 PM

Wow a 16 team conference with just one out bid. Looks like if MSU-Moorhead jump into the icebox they possibly will not have a conference to join. Unless of course they get an invite some where else.

4four4

09-15-2011, 03:54 PM

If there is any truth to that thought, I would think it would have to be about UAH. All the talk is that the AHA-4 balked at being in the CCHA with UP or (more likely) Alaska schools due to travel concerns. What would possess them to suddenly consider joining the WCHA with all the Minnesota (except UMD and UMTC, of course), UP, and Alaska schools? I would be shocked if they were to be involved in any discussions with the WCHA.

Why? Minnesota is the hockey universe.

kingdobbs

09-15-2011, 04:15 PM

I would hope it's UAH... if it is the four Atlantic schools, why not keep the CCHA and the autobid?

Seems to me like if the arrangement were seen as a workable one for the involved schools, it would have happened by now. The fact that Ferris and Lake State jumped on the WCHA invite almost immediately, without a second meeting with the AHA-4, suggests to me that they weren't wholly interested in a rebooted CCHA, whether it saves the autobid or not.

Inviting the AHA-4 to a super-sized WCHA, on the other hand, affords the opportunity for members to participate in essentially the same thing, see whether it's stable and produces decent attendance results, and not have to worry about one member folding and torching the whole league. If the "East Division" teams seem to be producing good attendance results and none of its members are going to drop hockey imminently, it'd be simple to calve it off as a new league (especially because it only takes two years with continuity of membership to get an autobid).

giwan

09-15-2011, 04:22 PM

That leads to speculation the WCHA and the CCHA could be talking with four Atlantic Hockey schools - Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara and Robert Morris - about joining the WCHA.
The CCHA and the four Atlantic Hockey schools first met July 26 to discuss future options for both sides.
Alabama-Huntsville, an independent, also may be involved in the talks. The Chargers were turned down for CCHA membership in 2009.

Really? That does not seem to make sense to me. Are they doing it in the short term to see how things shake out? It would make more sense to have a WCHA and CCHA but it's possible they would be concerned with a team jumping later to NCHC or back to AHA.

Shirtless Guy

09-15-2011, 04:43 PM

Really? That does not seem to make sense to me. Are they doing it in the short term to see how things shake out? It would make more sense to have a WCHA and CCHA but it's possible they would be concerned with a team jumping later to NCHC or back to AHA.That was in the article posted...

laker_one

09-15-2011, 04:47 PM

From the Sentinel-Trib article:

"That leads to speculation the WCHA and the CCHA could be talking with four Atlantic Hockey schools..."

"Alabama-Huntsville, an independent, also may be involved in the talks...."

Exactly who is speculating? Anyone in print? Anyone who knows anything? And UAH may be involved... or they may not. Sounds to me like he's blowing smoke.

This whole idea doesn't make much sense to me.

TigerFan86-87

09-15-2011, 10:05 PM

Why? Minnesota is the hockey universe.
While that may be true for those of you in the Land of 10,000 Lakes...

The AHA-4 are actually all much closer to the mean geographic center of the college hockey universe :)
(If I remember correctly someone on here calculated it as being somewhere between Buffalo and Rochester, NY, ~ 30 miles east of Niagara and Canisius)

5hole

09-16-2011, 08:53 AM

I would not be at all surprised if some or all of the AHA4 are exploring the idea of applying to the WCHA, especially if BGSU and WMU accept. There would be some issues, mostly regarding travel. I am wondering if some type of pod schedules such as those used in the CCHA would be a means of controlling that travel issue?

Shirtless Guy

09-16-2011, 09:25 AM

I would not be at all surprised if some or all of the AHA4 are exploring the idea of applying to the WCHA, especially if BGSU and WMU accept. There would be some issues, mostly regarding travel. I am wondering if some type of pod schedules such as those used in the CCHA would be a means of controlling that travel issue?Are a few more scholarships really worth being one of possibly 16 teams to get an autobid? Based on my experience with the unbalanced schedules of a 12 team conference, I hate to think of what the schedule would look like. If you're going to get to 16 teams, why not just keep the CCHA alive with the AHA, WMU, BGSU, FSU, UAH. Granted thats what I was hoping for to begin with.

manurespreader

09-16-2011, 09:47 AM

looking at the possibilities for BG.
1. They go to the WCHA. longer travel, some new teams to play, some familiar teams, increased expenses. But overall not terrible.

2. they go where? You think the nchc will take them?... I doubt it. ...Atlantic hockey along with Hunstville?, possible. Might lower expenses and the Atlantic teams are closer than the WCHA. But the level of competition would be lower. Again overall not terrible for them.I don't see the Atlantic four leaving to tell the truth.
3. They drop Hockey. also possible. They are short of money. Not a great solution though and it doesn't seem on the table at this point.

Maybe they are waiting for WMU and if WMU goes to the WCHA, I can see BG going along, but if not then well we'll see. At any rate I think the decision has pretty much been made.